'Forever grateful' - Beckham leads Eriksson tributes

David Beckham paid tribute to "true gentleman" Sven Goran Eriksson and said he will beryllium "forever grateful" to nan erstwhile England manager, who has died aged 76.

Eriksson, nan first non-British England manager, named Beckham arsenic his skipper aft being appointed successful 2001.

The Swede was head for each but 2 of nan 59 matches Beckham captained England.

"Sven, convey you for ever being nan personification you person ever been, passionate, caring, calm and a existent gentleman," said nan erstwhile Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder.

"I will beryllium everlastingly grateful for you making maine your captain."

Beckham posted his connection connected societal media alongside a video of nan brace from his sojourn to spot Eriksson earlier this year.

Eriksson revealed successful January he had been diagnosed pinch crab and fixed "at best" a twelvemonth to live.

"We laughed, we cried and we knew we were saying goodbye," Beckham said.

"I will everlastingly clasp these past memories of this time pinch you and your family.

"Thank you Sven and successful your past words to maine "It will beryllium OK"."

Eriksson led nan Three Lions to nan quarter-finals astatine 3 awesome tournaments during his five-year spell successful complaint betwixt 2001 and 2006.

He besides managed 12 clubs, including Manchester City, Leicester, Roma and Lazio, winning 18 trophies.

Striker Wayne Rooney made his England debut nether Eriksson arsenic a 17-year-old and described him arsenic a "special man".

"Rest successful peace, Sven," Rooney said.

"Thanks for nan memories and each your thief and advice. Thoughts and prayers pinch each his family and friends."

England's existent skipper Harry Kane said: "I didn't person nan privilege of playing nether Sven but I cognize really good liked and respected he was by those who played nether him arsenic England manager.

"My thoughts are pinch his family and friends astatine this time."

Tributes person been played by a number of England players who were portion of nan alleged 'Golden Generation' nether Eriksson's management.

Striker Peter Crouch said: "What a awesome personification he was.

"Sven gave maine my England debut erstwhile plentifulness doubted it. I will everlastingly beryllium grateful to him. He will beryllium missed."

John Terry, who was besides fixed his debut by Eriksson, described him arsenic a "great head and superb man-manager".

Defender Micah Richards made his England debut soon aft Eriksson near nan England occupation successful 2006 but played nether nan Swede erstwhile he took complaint of Manchester City a twelvemonth later.

"His man-management was arsenic bully arsenic I ever knowledgeable and it meant I could play my champion shot nether him," Richards, now a pundit connected nan BBC, said.

"Thank you for everything, Sven."

Former Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said "we person mislaid an unthinkable man to whom I beryllium a awesome deal".

Schmeichel was fixed his Premier League debut by Eriksson astatine Manchester City and was signed again by nan erstwhile England leader during his spells astatine Notts County and Leicester.

Schmeichel would spell connected to triumph nan Premier League title pinch Leicester successful 2016.

"Sven was nan first head to genuinely judge successful maine and springiness maine a chance astatine nan highest level," Schmeichel said.

"He was nan first head to telephone maine world-class and he made maine consciousness 10 feet tall.

"He gave maine my Premier League debut, brought maine to Notts County, and yet to Leicester wherever I enjoyed nan champion clip of my career.

"It is simply a awesome nonaccomplishment to shot and nan world. I want to convey him for everything he did for me."

Inter Milan head Simone Inzaghi won nan Serie A title nether Eriksson pinch Lazio successful 1999-2000.

He said his passing is simply a "a awesome symptom for me".

"He was basal successful my maturation arsenic a footballer and arsenic a man," nan Italian said.

"I admired his calm, his education, nan awesome respect he had for everyone. For maine he was a root of inspiration.

"Sven was a awesome man, an illustration for everyone. He taught america to unrecorded while he was dying."